Even more impressive is the 2011 Seventeen Forty Reserve. A blend of 70% Cabernet Franc and 30% Merlot that spent 16 months in 70% new French oak, it possesses complex notes of tobacco leaf, black currants, lead pencil shavings and crushed flowers to go with a voluptuously textured, rich, yet focused and structured palate. The purity and balance here are impressive and this beauty will continue to shine through 2021. Drink now-2021. (JD)
(8/ 2013)

90
points
Wine Enthusiast

This is an unusual blend of 70% Cabernet Franc and 30% Merlot. It’s full-bodied and rich in black cherries, currants, cola, sugared coffee and cedar, with a long, spicy finish that lasts the better part of a minute. It’s also tannic, and while the official alcohol reading is 14.2% by volume, feels hotter than than that. Delicious and refined, but it’s hard to see it developing in the bottle, so drink over the next few years. - S.H.
(12/ 2013)

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

(made from 70% cabernet franc and 30% merlot): Glass-staining ruby. Smoky, oak-spiced dark berries and cherry on the nose. Warm, palate-coating blackcurrant and bitter cherry flavors pick up a vanilla accent with air, along with notes of black cardamom and mocha. Closes on a smoky note, with lingering oak spice and cherry pit qualities.
(12/ 2013)

Wine Spectator

Young and rustic, with rough-hewn notes of chewy dark berry, cedar, black licorice and mineral. Fans out and coats the palate, ending with chewy tannins. Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Drink now through 2022.
(11/ 2013)

Wine Scores

Below is a listing of the wine review scores we frequently reference in our notes. While these sources remain an excellent source of information, we always recommend that you trust your own palate. Scores in these publications often represent the personal taste of an individual critic, which may not always coincide with your own. We have a huge team of excellent wine professionals that can match wines you've had in the past with new arrivals that meet your flavor profile.

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Product Reviews:

I'm loving this Cabernet Franc based blend from Paso! The reason is that 2011 being a cooler vintage, the fruit is much prettier and showier without the over-ripe, reductive raisiny quality that so many big Paso reds struggle with vintage to vintage. Lots of gorgeous violet, blue fruit, spice, and soft velvety tannins that keep your palate balanced and loving every sip! Drinking great now no need to wait!

Additional Information:

Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

- Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way from its role as a blending varietal, however dominant, in the wines of Bordeaux. Today it is the most planted red varietal in the world. Identified as a descendent of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be planted in warmer climates to fully ripen. Its small berries can easily be identified for their distinctive blue color, thick skins and high tannins. And while the varietal has its own definitive characteristics: green pepper-like aromas and black currant flavors among them, it is perhaps most prized for its ability to convey terroir, vintage and winemaking.
A relatively new varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon started making inroads into the wines of the Médoc and Graves in the late-18th century. Today it is also dominant in the up-and-coming Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux and can also be found in Southwest France. It is the companion varietal to Sangiovese in Italy's Super Tuscans and is planted all over Europe, stretching to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Russia and Lebanon. In the Americas Cabernet Sauvignon has found champions in every nook and cranny of California and among winemakers in Washington, where it complements plantings of Merlot. In South America, Cab thrives in Chile, but can also be found in smaller amounts in Argentina and even in Mexico.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world. Click for a list of bestselling items from the United States.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year. For our entire selection of California wines, please visit this link.

Specific Appellation:

Paso Robles

- Located about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this inland AVA enjoys a sunny and hot growing period while its seaside neighbors hang in the fog. Zinfandel is the traditional red grape of choice, though cabernet, chardonnay, and Rhône varietals are gaining favor. Most are made in a fruit-forward, early drinking style.